On TIME’s cover this week would be an unlikely icon: Hollywood actress Laverne Cox who was born a man and according to her, she was bullied and harassed for appearing feminine while growing up.

Eventually, Laverne came out as transgender while living in New York City and she's now a star on the Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black.

Laverne has emerged as a public leader of the transgender movement, using her increasingly prominent perch to make the case for equal rights for transgenders in the society today. See more photos of Miss. Laverne below.....